A defence minister has stated that the MoD is actively investigating the potential security risks associated with Chinese-made cars, while personnel have been told to avoid talking about secret matters in all cars.
Safety Guidance for MoD Staff
During a recent interview on LBC, Luke Pollard addressed claims that MoD officials have been instructed not to talk about classified information while riding in Chinese cars.
He explained that the MoD is “examining” Chinese vehicles within its vehicle pools, however emphasised that safety is a concern in all modern vehicles.
Our department has a fleet of tens of thousands of cars in the Ministry of Defence and those vehicles represent a tiny fraction.
But whether you’re traveling in a vehicle from China or a non-Chinese car, our instruction to our people is to avoid connecting MoD devices into their car, to avoid having conversations at a classified classification in any kind of car, due to the growing risks of surveillance that exist in every single automobile, to restrict those confidential talks in secure locations. This is a wise and reasonable thing for anyone concerned about security.
When it was suggested that it would be wise for the ministry to stop using all cars from China, Pollard replied: ‘That’s precisely what we’re investigating at the present time.”
Wider Defence Context
The announcement comes as claims from Scandinavian countries have warned the UK to the existence of multi-purpose kill switches in Chinese electric buses, which could allow the Chinese government to switch off buses and bring chaos to public transit.
Additionally, a Russian spy ship has been shining laser beams at RAF aircrew, labeled a “highly dangerous” act by government representatives.
This wider security environment underscores the importance of robust measures and vigilance in all areas of official operations, including vehicle use to discussions habits.
